Hat trick toy



E. L. ENOCHS May 31, 1949.

HAT TRIGK TOY 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June l, 1948 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS E. L. ENOCHS May 3l, 1949.

HAT TRICK TOY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June l, 1948 INVENTOR E. L. E'nocb.s

Mi riz/ajb ATTORN EYS E. L. ENOCHS May 3l, 1949.

HAT TRICK TOY 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Flled June l, 1948 INVENTOR E L.Eno'chs nA/f YQ/PX/ ATTORNEYS Patented May 31, 1,949

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAT TRICK TOY Edward Loyd Enochs, Modesto, Calif.

Application .I une 1, 1948, Serial No. 30,224

l Claims.

This invention is directed to, and it is an object to provide, as a toy, a novel, simulated magicians hat trick; the tri-ck contemplating the `showing of an apparently empty top hat, and then the popping up of a facsimile rabbits head from within the hat.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hat trick toy, as above, wherein the facsimile rabbits head is normally disposed in the crown portion of the hat beneath a false bottom of flexible material such as felt or the like; such false bottom being split from end to end to permit the head to pass therethrough and rise out of the hat.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hat trick toy, as in the preceding paragraph, which includes a novel spring-actuated erection or lifting mechanism for raising the head from its normally concealed position, through the split false bottom, and to a position projecting out of the hat for exhibition; said mechanism normally being folded into the hat beneath the false bottom, and releasably latched in such position.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a hat trick toy which is simple in structure, economical to manufacture, yet producing a unique and amusing visual effect when in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a practical and reliable hat trick toy, and one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the hat trick toy, partly in section, showing the facsimile rabbits head and the lifting mechanism in its normal folded position.

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing mainly the false bottom of the hat; the facsimile rabbits head, hidden below said false bottom, being indicated in broken lines.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing the facsimile rabbits head as erected and projecting out of the hat for display.

Fig. 4 is a direct front elevation, partly in section, with the parts as in Fig. 3.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the hat trick top comprises a container I in the form of, and closely resembling an inverted top hat, including a brim 2, which surrounds the open end 3 of said container.

The bottom l of the container I, which bottom Il corresponds to the top part of a hat, is relatively heavy, and is reinforced on the inside by a rectangular metallic base plate 5 fixed thereto.

The base plate 5 includes laterally and outwardly projecting extensions 6 which carry, on opposite sides of the hat, upstanding legs 'I. The legs 'I are iitted, on top thereof, with relatively narrow, horizontal platforms 8 disposed in alignment transversely of the container and in a plane about half way between its ends.

The container I is fitted therein, in substantially the aforesaid plane, with a false bottom, indicated generally at 9; such false bottom 9 comprising a pair of half oval flaps I0, of flexible material such as felt, fixed at their outer edge portions to corresponding platforms 8. Adjacent edges of the flaps I0 are straight and lap slightly, as at II. At one or both ends, and under the flaps IIJ, they may be supported, normally, by a y stabilizing flange l 2.

The above described false bottom 9 separates the interior of the container I into an upper compartment I3 and a lower compartment I4.

The normally folded spring-actuated lifting mechanism is normally disposed in the lower compartment I4 and comprises the following structural arrangement:

An articulated arm unit, indicated generally at I 5, of normally Z-shape, is disposed in said lower compartment I4 and includes a relatively short lower arm lli; a relatively long intermediate arm Il; and a relatively short upper arm I8. The intermediate arm Il normally extends lengthwise of, and centrally below, the lapped edges II of the flaps ll) of the false bottom 9.

The lower arm I6 is connected, at its lower end, to the base plate 5 generally centrally thereof by a spring hinge I9, and thence extends at an upward incline to connection with the intermediate arm Il by means of a spring hinge 2B adjacent, but short of, one end of said arm. Outwardly of the spring hinge 2i) the intermediate arm Il carries a counter-balance weight 2 l.

At its opposite end said intermediate arm Il is normally supported by an upstanding flange 22. The upper arm I8 is connected at its lower end to the intermediate arm Il on the top side and adjacent the end corresponding to the upstanding flange 22 by a spring hinge 23. The upper arm I8 is secured in a relatively deep, normally downwardly-opening slot 2d in a facsimile rabbits head 25 likewise disposed in the lower compartment I4. By slotting the facsimile rabbits head 25, as at 24, said head may straddle the intermediate arm l1 and thus rest much lower in the container l than would otherwise be the case.

The facsimile rabbits head includes a neck portion 26 on the front of which is amXed a bow tie 21; such bow tie serving to conceal from the front, a view of the mechanism by means of which said head is lifted to its outwardly projecting position, as hereinafter described. The head 25 also includes facsimile, ears 28.

The above described lifting mechanism tends to erect under the action of the spring hinges I9, 2U, and 23, but such erection is normally prevented by a catch pin 29 which extends through an opening 30 centrally in the bottom 4, and thence passes through an elongated slot 3l inthe intermediate arm il. At its upper end the catchl arm 29 includes a hook 32 which engages through an opening 33 in the upper arm lc and hookingly engages with the top surface of the latter adjacenmsa-id opening. Thecatch pin- 2Q projects only-,slightly'below the -bottom l.

A leaf-springl 34 'betweenfthe base plate and catclfipin-` 231 norma-lly holds the latter in its latched-.or hooked position, as shown in Fig. 1.

When-theA above described hat trick toy is in use,f the'container i, which appears as a top hat, isfiirst manipulated so that the the audience may lookyinto-thef open end l3; the false bottom giving the impression that the container or hat is empty, which innoressionl may be strengthened by.applying simulated trademarks to the outside ofthefflaps lll. After the illusion of emptiness hlasbeenacreated, the container I is manipulated sonthatthe audience can no longer see through the open end 3,- whereupon the catch pin 29 is released,withnnnoticeable motion of one of the fingersy of lthephand Iwhich supports the container Ii Upon release of thehook 32 from the upper arm-13the described articulated arm unit l5 flies upwardly to its extended position, as in Figs. 3 and Lblunder the influence of thespring hinges i9, 213;, and 23. Such spring hinges are arranged so that;v the; arms ofl the unit i5 cannot pass dead. center under `the spring action.V

Upon the articulated arm unit erecting, as above --described, the: facsimile rabbits hea-d 25 is sprung upwardly through the false bottomy 9 byy parting theflaps lll at their lapping edges Il, and; said YheadI then projects or pops out of the hat--likev container I in the manner shown in Figs.

Stand 4; alll to the very great amusement of the audience. l

Asfpreviously indicated, the bow tie 21when the device is held so that the tie faces forwardly, fully carnouiiagcs or hides from View the upper end; portionof the armv unit l5. The weightZl tends vtocounter-balance the motion of the parts as they-spring to erected position.

'fov reset thetrick, the articulated ann unit ll5 canV be easily folded-by hand downward through the split false bottom Si to its normal position in the lower compartment llt, whereupon the hookv 32 of the catch pin 2S is re-engagedthrough the opening 331and with the upper arm l 8.

The device, being simple in structure and economical to manufacture, is an excellent toy for children, and can. be readily andY easily manipulated byl achild.

From-'the foregoing description it will be read-- yilyseen that there has been produced such a.

device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

Whilethisspecication sets forth in detail` thecpresentpreferred construction of thel 4 device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following s claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

1. A trick comprising, as a toy, a container open at one end .and closed by a bottom at the other end, a false bottomin the container above the bottom, the false bottom being of flexible material and having a split therein, a facsimile member normally disposed in the chamber between the bottom of the container and the false bottom, a device normally lwholly in said chamber supporting the facsimile member and adaptedto eject said member through the slit false bottom to a position exposed to view above the container, means tending to actuate the device, and releasable holding means operative to normally prevent Iactuation of said rst named means.

2. A trick comprising, as a toy, a container open at the topand having a-bottom, the; container being of the form `and appearance of a top hat, a flexible false bottom in the container intermediate its ends, the false bottom having asplit therein, a facsimile head vnormallyinthe chamber below the false bottom, a normally folde ed, articulated arm unit supporting the yhead in saidchamber but adapted -tc-erect through the slit false bottom with the headto4 positiony thelatter in view above the, container, springmeanstending to erect the; arm unit, and manually releasable holding means operative to normally prevent actuation ofthe spring means; said articulated Aarm unit normally beingr generallyof.,

Zfshape, and the spring means being spring hinges connecting adjacent arms Iof the unit to.- gether.

3. A toy trick, as in claim 2, in which said Z- shaped,.- articulated arm unit includes, in normal position,` an intermediate arm extending trans-` verselyof the direction of erection above thebottom of the container, -a lower arm hinged to the bottom and-extending at an upward incline` to. andffhinged in connection with the intermediate armadjacent one end, aniupper arml hinged tov and extending at` an upward incline from adjacent the; other end of the intermediate arm; the head being secured to said upper arm..

i. A toy trick, as in claim 3, includingA a'counterbalancingweight on the intermediate armiat saidy one. end;Y there being an under-side support,

for the opposite endI of-saidfintermediatearm.

5. A trick comprising, as a toy, a container open at the top and having `a bottom, the.l container beingl of the form and appearance of :a top hat, a base plate on the bottom of the container, legs upstandingl from the base plate atl opposite sides of the container, platforms on saidlegs intermediate the ends ofthe container, a slit, false-bottom in `the Ycontain-er, said falsevbottom-including exible apssecured at opposite sides to said platforms and lapping atithe adjacent edges, a facsimile head normallyvin, the chamber below, the false bottonma normallyfolded, articulated armunit supporting the head inA said ch-amberlbut-ladapted to erect through. the

slit false `bottom withl the head to vposition the*` latter in, View above the container, spring` means tending to erect the arm unit, and manually re leasable holding means operative to normally pre-- vent-actuation of thefspringY means; the artcu lated unit beingattached at thefend 013100-, site the head to the base plate.

6. A trick comprising, as a toy, a container open at the top and having a bottom, the container being of the form and appearance of a top hat, a flexible false bottom in the container intermediate its ends, the false bottom having a split therein, a facsimile head normally in the chamber below the false bottom, a normally folded, articulated arm unit supporting the head in said chamber but adapted to erect through the slit false bottom with the head to position the latter in view above the container, spring means tending to erect the arm unit, and manually releasable holding means operative to normally prevent actuation of the spring means; said holding means including a catch pin projecting slightly, as a trigger, through the bottom.

7. A trick comprising, as a toy, a container open at the top and having a bottom, the container being of the form and appearance of a top hat, a flexible false bottom in the container intermediate its ends, the false bottom having a split therein, a facsimile head normally in the chamber below the false bottom, a normally folded, articulated arm unit supporting the head in said chamber but adapted to erect through the slit false bottom with the head to position the latter in view above the container-spring means tending to erect the arm unit, and manually re leasable holding means operative to normally prevent actuation of the spring means; the arm unit being generally Z-shaped and including an upper arm, and said holding means including a, catch releasably engaged with said upper arm and having a trigger part accessible from exteriorly of the container.

8. A trick as in claim l in which the device comprises an articulated, normally folded arm unit, and the actuating means comprises spring hinges between the arms of theunit.

9. A trick as in claim 8 in which the articulated arm unit includes an upper arm, a middle arm and a lower arm, the facsimile member being provided with a slot, the upper arm being secured in the bottom of the slot and the sides of the slot straddling the middle and lower arms when the member is disposed in the chamber.

10. A trick comprising, as a toy, a container formed .to represent a top-hat, a facsimile rabbits head normally disposed in the container below the upper end thereof, means in the container supporting the facsimile rabbits head and tending to raise the same upwardly to a Dosition projecting out of the top of the container, holding means releasable from outside the container operative to normally prevent actuation of said first named means, and a yieldable closure member arranged in connection with the container in a manner to normally close `the same above said facsimile rabbits head and said means whereby to normally conceal the same.

EDWARD LOYD ENOCHS.

No references cited. 

